Morning Buzz: Relief arrives after scorching weather

Sydneysiders enjoying the first week of school holidays can expect another warm and sunny day on Monday, of 27 degrees, Craig McIntosh, meteorologist at Weatherzone, said.

Temperatures should gradually cool off for Tuesday, bringing in milder spring weather of 24 degrees.

A weak rain band is expected to cross NSW on late Wednesday or Thursday morning. Read more.

With the state already facing "extreme" bushfire risks with hot and dry weather, a parliamentary inquiry has heard of allegations of bullying and nepotism within the Rural Fire Service.

The hearing was told last week by vice-president of the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association that the community could no longer be protected.

At the public Emergency Services Agency hearing, chaired by Shooters and Fishers' Robert Borsak, RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons was quizzed by Greens member David Shoebridge after it was revealed 48 per cent of RFS members had witnessed bullying while 18 per cent had been victims of bullying and that "only two people have been dismissed because of it". Read more.

Police are urging motorists not to leave children unattended in vehicles as temperatures soar for the second straight day.

The warning comes after police broke into a 42-year-old man's car after he allegedly left his three-year-old son inside the vehicle while he visited a licensed premises in Sydney's south-west on the weekend.

The alleged incident came as temperatures soared to 32.2 degrees on Saturday afternoon. Read more.

Reducing Australia's per-capita alcohol consumption by just one litre a year would drive a significant reduction in head, neck and liver cancer deaths.

That's the conclusion of a new study that offers the first suggestive evidence that a decrease in Australia's population-level drinking - as opposed to individual-level - would reduce the prevalence of cancer deaths particularly among men and over 50s. Read more.

Wollongong was pumped for Elton John on Sunday and Elton didn’t disappoint.

As the rock icon alighted from his chopper early in the afternoon, loud cheers erupted from those perched high on balconies overlooking WIN Entertainment Centre. Read more.

The Commonwealth Bank has become the first bank to axe fees for customers of other institutions using its ATMs to withdraw cash.

"Australians have complained for some time about being charged fees for using another bank's ATM," CBA's group executive, retail banking services, Matt Comyn, said in a statement on Sunday. Read more.

Steve Smith has declared his side's recent results are unacceptable for an Australian cricket team after suffering a demoralising series defeat in India ahead of the Ashes.

India wrapped up the best-of-five one-day internationals on Sunday by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in Indore, comfortably chasing down Australia's total of 293 with 13 balls to spare.

It's a less than ideal lead-in to the Ashes, with the first Test fewer than two months away, especially after drawing a Test series with Bangladesh earlier in the month. Read more.

In the dressing-rooms at Allianz Stadium long after their win, Te Maire Martin plopped down on a bench next to Morgan and started chuckling. Michael Morgan started chuckling with him.

They had every right to be laughing. Nobody expected this. Not even themselves.

Now they're in the grand final next Sunday night at ANZ Stadium against the cyborgs of the Melbourne Storm and while many are already writing them off, just as they have for the past three weeks, the Cowboys are the sentimental favourites even if they're not fancied by the bookmakers. Read more.

St George Illawarra have had their Holden Cup season ended after a shock preliminary final loss to Manly.

The Dragons fell 34-18 in the penultimate game of the under-20s season thanks largely to superb individual performances from Manly halfback Cade Cust and lock Haumole Olakauátu.

St George Illawarra, who finished the regular season in third place on the table, had earned themselves a week off after winning their qualifying final a fortnight ago and were favourites to account for the eighth-placed Sea Eagles. Read more.